Tradition Omedan-Omed

History omed - omedan itself originated from a story about a king's illness oka Sesetan temple in ancient times, which supposedly does not go away despite treatment. But strangely without treatment, the king was cured after watching the residents do omed-omedan. Since then the tradition is carried out and continue to be preserved as an effort to honor their ancestors as well as for comfort residents after implementation of Nyepi.

A day after the Nyepi, there is a unique tradition that is always held the youth of Banjar Kaja, Sesetan, Denpasar. namely omed mass-omedan or kiss between boys and girls village as a form of happiness in the day Ngembak Geni. Participants omed-omedan is sekaa-teruni cadet or young people ranging from age 17 to 30 years or who have an adult but not yet married.
In Bali-Indonesian Dictionary, omed-omedan means of attraction. "Omed-omedan is a mass kissing traditions that exist only in Br.kaja Sesetan, Bali as one of the ancestral cultural heritage that until now kept at the preserve. " Once upon a time omed-omedan not implemented and appears catastrophe marked by war two pigs in Banjar Kaja. Then the village elders decided to immediately hold a procession omed-omedan to keep the village from a bigger disaster.

Before starting this unique tradition-omedan omed participants who are all young men and women do the praying and the prayer at Banjar temple to invoke the safety and smooth running during the event, led by local stakeholders. Finished praying, then the participants who were divided into 2 groups, male and female. About 50 youths confronted with 50 women from mingling ketengah arena. Once there cue from village elders, both groups see each other and kissing each other leading participants in front of thousands of spectators who crowded around the site omed-omedan present in the traditions of this once a year.

Furthermore, one of two groups of young men and women then paraded take turns hugging and kissing each other. In this tradition the two participants who paraded this should not choose a partner who kissed. Action hugs and kisses will be separated after the participants get a splash of water from the committee.

For the participants, even those who admitted kissing uncomfortable because the place crowded, but this is done because it is one of the ancestral traditions, as well as entertainment after conducting meditation penyepian.

As for his own village elders in addition to some one of respect for ancestors, tradition-omedan omed also as a venue for fostering relationships among fellow citizens of the Banjar.

By : Made Wisnu Wijaya